Young prop joins Oldham on loan

A YOUNG prop of whom Wakefield Trinity expect big things has joined Oldham on loan, initially for one month.

Born in Zimbabwe, but raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, the now 19-year-old Titus Gwaze came to England when he was ten to link up with his Mum who was living in Huddersfield.

Rugby Union was his first love but that all changed when he reached the senior years at Honley High School in Huddersfield and was introduced to the 13-a-side game.

He played Union until about three years ago and since switching to League he has made a meteoric rise through the ranks to the point where he is now a full-time contracted pro at Wakefield and a member of their first-team squad.

He comes from the same Trinity set-up as Luke Hooley and Lee Kershaw.

He will train for the first time with Roughyeds tonight (Tues) and, like all other squad members with the exception of the injured Paul Crook, will be in contention for a place in the Roughyeds 17 to kick off the 2019 Betfred League 1 campaign against Workington Town at home on Sunday (3pm).

Said Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton:

“Titus is held in high regard at Wakefield. He’s a young lad with plenty of potential and he can play long minutes.

“He’ll give us options in the first month when we have some big games coming up.

“He’ll be training with us all this week so he’ll be in contention for the big game on Sunday.”

Head coach Scott Naylor was content with his 24-man squad, as he said last week, but when the opportunity arose to take Titus on loan it was considered too good to miss.

Said Scott:

“He’s been on the radar of a few clubs. He’s young, fit, strong and very keen.

“He’s in that stage of his career where he isn’t quite ready for Trinity’s first team but he’s too good for the Academy.

“We’ve been trying to get him for a couple of weeks and now we’re absolutely delighted to land him. A big thank-you to Wakefield for agreeing to do the deal.

“He’ll be available with everyone else so I’m going to have plenty of choices for the first game of the season, which is how it should be.

“Unless anyone gets hurt in training I’ll be picking from a fit and healthy squad.”

Having discovered rugby league it wasn’t long before Titus was playing first at Underbank, then at Brighouse Rangers and then in the Halifax Elite RL Academy and it was there that he was spotted by a Trinity scout and taken to Belle Vue.

He trialed for six months, played in the Academy for a year and then signed a full-time first-team contract.

He said:

“My immediate goal is to do well for Oldham; my mid-term aim is to get into Trinity’s side as a regular; and my long-term hope is that I can get into the England team.”

OLDHAM RLFC is delighted to offer its congratulations to Councillor Ginny Alexander and her Consort husband, former Oldham councillor and Oldham RLFC forward Adrian Alexander, on the extension of her term of office as Mayor until May, 2021.